Cloth Pads for Beginners: Getting Started

Today we’re going to talk about cloth menstrual pads and answer some questions you may have if you’re considering giving them a try. I’ve been using cloth pads for a few months now, so those beginner questions are still fresh in my mind!

This is somewhat of a taboo subject, so I’ll do my best to be helpful without getting too detailed or graphic.

Before anyone asks, yes, those are brand new pads that I received in the mail yesterday… so they have never been used. 🙂

Tips for Purchasing Cloth Pads for the first time:

1. Measure the pads you currently use. Grab a ruler and an unused disposable pad that fits you comfortably and measure the length. Also, consider what you don’t like about the sizing of the pads you currently wear. Are they too long? Too short? I should’ve followed my own advice on this one because the cloth pads pictured at the top of this post are larger than I thought they’d be.

2. Purchase from more than one seller. Purchasing from more than one seller ensures that you’ll get to experience more styles, and fits, of cloth pads. If you initially purchase all of your pads from one seller, and find them uncomfortable, you may decide that all cloth pads are uncomfortable simply because you’ve only had one experience with them across the board.

Answers to Common Questions

I put together a list of questions that I had as a beginner and that I’ve been asked by friends that are interested in using cloth menstrual pads. Please remember that I’m answering from personal experience, so others may have different experiences and opinions.

What’s the minimum number of cloth pads I need to get started?

Comfortably, I’d say six is the minimum. Though some say three, which is possible, but you’d have to launder them daily. I purchased six to get started and it worked for me because I only needed to toss them in the wash every other day.

Do I need anything else to get started?

Technically, no. But there are tools that may make your experience more comfortable and help keep your pads stain-free. Some of these may be:

Stain stick (I use a Fels Naptha bar – you can find them at most grocery stores in the laundry section)

What about odor?

I have found them to be completely odor free.

Will the cloth pads become stained?

Short answer:maybe.Long answer: There is always a chance, but you can take certain steps to minimize staining, like using a stain stick and soaking in oxy clean. A friend that has worn cloth pads for years recommends purchasing black pads and says she never has to worry about stains (good idea!).

How uncomfortable is it to clean?

It may not be as uncomfortable an experience as you might think. Being a fairly squeamish person, I dreaded this part at first, but it didn’t make me uncomfortable or disgust me (which is a word I unfortunately see used to describe cloth pads by those that haven’t worn them). It is an adjustment, though, and not everyone may be comfortable rinsing a soiled pad.

How do you clean cloth pads?

Some rinse and fold after use, and place in a wet bag, bin or laundry basket until laundry day. While others soak in a container of soapy water or oxy clean, changing the water daily. Others prefer to rinse, treat with a stain stick immediately and on laundry day do a quick soak in oxy clean before washing (which is what I do).

There is no right, or wrong, method for cleaning cloth pads. It’s all about which method best fits your lifestyle and comfort level. Most cloth pad sellers will include recommended care instructions with your package.

Note:I also clean the sink with rubbing alcohol so it can resume its normal use without concern. I’m not sure if everyone else does this, but it’s a “for good measure” step that I never skip.

Do cloth pads leak?

They can, but this really depends on whether you are wearing an appropriately sized pad and whether it has the necessary absorbency for the particular stage in your cycle. I’ve found it best to wear longer, more absorbent pads at night to avoid potential leaks.

What do you do when changing a pad away from home?

Most ladies use a small wetbag which has a waterproof lining and two pockets –one pocket for clean pads, and another for the pads you’re changing out of. When changing, you simply fold and snap the pad closed and place it into the “used” pocket; while grabbing a clean pad from the other pocket. You can keep this bag in your purse. Then when you get home, treat as you normally would.

Here’s my wet bag (which I haven’t had to use yet) with clean pads in each pocket to give you a better idea.

I’ve had no personal experience with this situation, however. I work from home so the need simply hasn’t arisen. I would love for more experienced ladies to chime into the comments below with their tips and experiences.

Can I throw them in with the rest of my laundry?

If you’d like to. Some prefer to keep them separate from the rest of the laundry (like me), however, so the way you wash them is up to personal preference. But be mindful of the heat settings on your washer and dryer. Generally, cloth pads should not be treated with hot water.

When rinsing and washing, I use cold water. When drying, I use the lowest heat setting. Some prefer to air dry cloth pads, but if you don’t have many pads in your stash, this may take too long to be practical.

Are they less expensive?

There is an upfront cost involved ($8 to $13 per cloth pad, in my experience). But over the long term, it is less expensive than disposables, as cloth pads last for years.

Please feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comments below. I’ll try my best to answer, but if I can’t help hopefully someone else will chime in and answer your question.

If cloth pads aren’t for you but you’d like to move away from disposables, consider reusable menstrual cups as an alternative. I have no personal experience with this, but some women prefer them to cloth pads.

Calling all Cloth Pad Users!

If you have experience purchasing cloth pads, please leave your recommendations and the name of the shop in the comments below. I’d love to help each other out by recommending our favorite shops/providers. If we get enough recommendations, I may add them to the post.

Comments

It seems this is complicated but it’s not. YoYou don’t have to buy pre-made pads, simply go to the fabric store and buy good quality cotton. Preah before using. Cut and fold to desired length and thickness for your needs. I used a small garbage can with cold water and detergent in it to pit used pads in. Wash as needed then when period is over store everything for the next month in the handy container. Pretty simple really and a lot cheaper. And your not fillin up land Fills. When I first started I had no choice, disposable wasn’t around yet. It’s kind of like cloth diapers. A little more trouble but a lot less expense. If your really concerned about overflow you can always wear a pull up on particularly bad days. Sorry this was so long.

Great tips, Hilda. I agree that it’s not as complicated as it seems, the research on which method you’ll use to clean your cloth pads is really the hardest part. And it’s certainly a lot less expensive if you have the sewing chops to make them yourself!

My mother used cloth, as did every woman in those days. I used it in a pinch on occasion. Mother’s generation used “menstral towels” which were dried by laying them on the grass, in the sun, to bleach. I am still a rag saver, and when good cotton garments or towels wear out, they are laundered, trimmed for use, and kept in a rag bag. (Cotton sox make cheap washable subs for those Swiffer towels, and Swiffer towels are washable, and sox make great fingerless gloves!) White cotton tees are especially valuable for personal higiene, for polishing, for many uses, as are cotton sweat shirts, which, I would think would be useful and absorbent for home constructed pads. (Being old, it is not something I need any more.). As for leakage, take a tip from yesterday to use a barrier of beeswax treated cloth. I have seen dyi instructions on line, so try a search. We throw away far too many useful items and buy too many one use items, and may I say that being poor is much less frightening when you are creative and have some skills. Being old is one of those times of life that frugal “old time skills” come in very handy!

I’m 43. Have used cloth for 7 months and love them. I’ve never bought a store bought pad. I sew my own! I can customize length, absorbency, and fabric patterns, and types (like Wonder Woman fabric & pul ). The average cost of my makes is $2 per pad with sale prices material. I’ll never by disposables again!

What keeps them from leaking is all the layers of cloth, flannel, and batting. Blood behaves differently on fabric than water and urine. No matter how many layers of cloth, if you spill water or have an accident, the water or urine will soak through almost instantly. Blood is thicker than water/urine,it will only soak through one layer at a time. So the more layers the better. I make my own pads, and each one has upwards of 10-15 layers. I have worn them over night, as well as several really long stretches of time when I was out and about and I haven’t had leak problems.

Charlie Banana makes a great one for panty liners . I know people who keep a small pail with lid and have hydrogen peroxide and water and a little soup in it to throw the used pads in until ready to clean.It keeps them from staining and out of the way till they are ready to deal with them.

you could use a safety pin like babies diapers. I grew in Cuba in the 80’s/90s and there was not disposable or even store-bought reusable. We used napkin type cloth pieces with cotton inside and safety pins to close them and hold them in place. This is definitely easier and less accident prone.

I tried making my own but they were more difficult to sew than I’d expected and the snaps popped out within a few washings. So I bought some, and they are so great, I will happily continue to buy from this shop: http://stores.ebay.com/loveoflittlethings/ VERY good prices, excellent quality, fast shipping, and even choice of colors. 🙂

Thanks for the recommendation! I’m definitely not skilled with a sewing machine, so I wouldn’t attempt them myself at the stage I am at in sewing.Though I did find this beginner-friendly tutorial on YouTube (she takes it very slow and sews in real time) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLXnTbi0_7c

It’s always great to have affordable sources for those of us that can’t sew. 😀

Thanks so much for starting a conversation on this! I’d love to hear from women who work outside the home. One thing holding me back is that I wouldn’t feel right about rinsing them in the sink at work. I’m not squeamish about it – – but other women might be and I don’t want to violate shared space. Any tips from working women?

I do sew and it’d be a breeze to make some.. I just have to take the leap and try it.

I wouldn’t feel comfortable rinsing in a sink that is not my own either. I know many women simply fold the pad closed and place in a wet bag until they get home, but I’m not sure if that makes them more prone to staining. I’d also love to hear about what other women do when they’re at work! 🙂

Personally I would start with using them at home and not at work yet. Get used to using them first. I have been using these reusable cloths for some time now (think little over a year) and I never take all these steps in washing them. I have a small bin (with lid) in my bathroom filled with cold water and I throw them in after use. No products in the water, no rinsing. The cold water will do the work and simply wash them at 30 degrees celcius (cold) whenever you have a load of laundry. After a year of using them I have never had smells or stains using this method. I use Momiji pads, especially the nighttime pad from them I really recommend. Also, get the pink or black colored ones!

Oh, and never use fabric softner when washing them. They will become less absorbing.

If you are using them at work I would suggest no rinsing at all and putting them straight in the wet bag. Maybe start with using them only on the last half of the day and using disposable in the mornings so you dont have to carry the full wetbag around all day and worry about it.

I know it has been long time since the question was asked. How would you feel about using both at different times? My babies are all adults now, but I used a mix of cloth & disposable diapers. Cloth at home & short trips, but I did use disposables when I knew that carrying the soiled ones, even using a liner, would be a problem.

Maybe on work days, you could leave the house with a disposable, and return in a washable?

I made my own out of my daughter’s cloth diapers after she was potty trained. I kept an empty ice cream bucket in the tub next to the toilet, filled with water and generic oxy clean to soak them. I washed them with towels, and bleached them regularly so odor was never an issue. I didn’t care if they stained, who would see them except me? Snug fitting underwar kept them in place so I never added snaps. I started this out oif economic necessity but even once I was in a better place financilly, I continued to use them. The only exception was when I travelled to Europe, I had no idea what my options would be so I packed tampons. I think more people should give it a try, it’s not as complicated as it sounds and most people I know, once they try it they prefer it.

I never even knew such things existed. Your post lead me on to researching all the health nasties of disposables too, so I’ve now just ordered a few cloth pads to try out. Thank you for the informative post.

I heard about these when I heard about the cup. But I didn’t give them to much thought. However, I am thinking about it. Especially since I don’t like having to buy more products and I’m tried of the plastic feeling of the other ones.

I’ve been using cloth pads for several years now. I use disposable ones for work on my heaviest days but they work fine for lighter days. just place in a ziplock bag and then in a cloth zippered bag (cosmetic bag) in my purse. Cleaning, I’m not that squeamish, so I throw them in the shower with me and step on them until they run clear. then wring out and launder with towels. I have assorted colors and the lighter ones are a bit stained, probably from the too hot water in the shower rinsing, but I don’t mind. I ordered mine from NewMoondot com. I wear the pantyliner size on all non-period days too.

I make my own. I am a pagan, so I did it at first as an offering of less waste to the Earth. I kept doing it because it is more comfortable, and cheaper. I work outside my home, so i do the wet bag, 2 pocket thing. Most women will at sometime or other slip into the restroom with a purse, so noody really notices. I wait until I get home to deal with them. I soak then at home with hydrogen peroxide until laundry. Its just like underwear. I am sure everyone at one time or another you have had to wash a stain out of that. As I make my own, if they get stained, or funky, I dispose and make a new one. I line it with flannel, so they really do get very soft, like older nightgowns.

On the odor issue, I have noticed that my cloth pads smelled when I had a systemic yeast overgrowth. Now that I am on the path of healing that, my pads don’t smell. I just wash them in a load with towels and hot water and they are fine. I make my own, and some have been so thick with my attempts to “water proof” them without spending money that it’s ridiculous, but they work well at night. My daughter recently bought herself some and says they are even better than my home made ones, which are way nicer than paper ones that gave us both a rash. I’m 44 and hesitate to buy them since things are not working like they used to and I’d hate to make the investment if I’m not going to get enough use out of them!

I just toss them in a laundry basket after use. They dry very fast, then wait until it’s time for laundry. I put them in the machine by themselves with no detergent and run it on a warm or hot cycle.

I used to go through all the effort of soaking and boiling, but it seemed like a waste, and it was destroying the softness of the pads.

I find that they can last a whole day if I need them to. But if I do want to change, I’ll bring along a large ziplock bag. This has even worked while travelling – I just bring one ziplock bag with clean pads, and one bag for the used ones. Then I wish when I get home.

I make my own. Snaps are superior to Velcro, which wasn’t obvious to me at first but Velcro against your skin hurts! I have enough to last my entire cycle and toss ’em in a plastic container as I use them. Soak ’em in soapy water for an hour before washing in super hot water. This loosens the dried-on stuff, so they can be cleaned and sanitized in one step. Using gentle detergent and allergy-friendly dryer sheets so it’s the least amount of chemicals on my skin. Easy peasy!

I’ve started using cloth pads recently, and I made my own. I use a cotton/linen blend yarn that I knit into a pad shape, and sew that onto second pad shape with wings that I make with flannel and PUL. I like that I get to use pretty fabrics that make me happy.

When I’m at home, I hand wash the pads after each use and allow them to air dry. When I work away from home, I use a dual pocket wet bag and just wash them when I get home when I’m ready to wash the one I’m using.

If you’re concerned about being seen taking a bag into the bathroom with you, tuck a lipstick or something into the clean side of the wet bag and reapply after you do your thing.

I have made my own using tshirts and old sheets i had laying around.i happen to be allergic to disposable pads (blisters) needless to say i didnt have much of a choice but i love them so much more comfortable plus its cheaper so thats more money that can go into savings,

I have never used cloth pads but I think I will look into it after reading this. One thing I use to get blood out of anything is hydrogen peroixide. If my normal pads leak or I get blood on my clothes from a cut or scrape I soak the area in hydrogen peroixide right away and it gets that stain right out. For heavier staining you might have to treat more then once but it works really well and is super cheap!

I make my own. I stayed using them because I started getting a reaction to the store bought ones. I make mine from pul, bamboo micro fleece, & zorb. I have found that after 1 1/2 years my period is lighter and I don’t cramp as badly.

On the washing front, I hand wash mine every night with no presoaking. I haven’t had any issues with smell or straining so far. I do occasionally throw them in with the laundry if they aren’t stained just for the extra cleaning action. I think the bamboo micro fleece is part of the stain helper. From my research bamboo fabrics are naturally more strain resistant.

Just thought I’d share a little story….. when I was a girl back in the 70’s, they were just coming out with the pads with the tape on the bottom. Somehow, a conversation with my Grandmother involved a conversation about the “old days” (1915), and she said they just used cloth rags. It is interesting how things change … temporarily … ‘everything old is new again’.

I have been using cloth pads and panty liners for 6 yrs now and honestly have no regrets. I can proudly say that none of them has stained so far, thanks to Fels-Naptha and a 2 in 1 basin (on the inside is a built in scrubber like the ones from great great grandma time) from Amazon. I no longer have breakouts and never have to worry about odor. I love them so much, they have their own drawer. .. yes, I own that much 😉

I make my own pads and have been using them solely for the past several years. Ever since stopping using commercial tampons and pads my menstrual cycle has gone from 1 week to only 4 days! If my cycle is extra heavy and I think I might leak through I just use a thin commercial pantyliner first then my pad over it.

I made some for light bladder leaks and I love them. I wish I had these when I still had my period. I don’t think it would be appropriate to rinse your pad at work just like it would not be appropriate to rinse a cloth diaper in a public sink…put it in a wet bag till you get home to rinse it.

I actually ordered my first pads from wish to start with cause I was on a tight budget as a single mom, I ordered different sizes and they work great if you’re on a budget. Also, if you want your pads to last longer, use a mild soap, not detergent. Castile soap works great and a little vinegar rinse in the water helps too. There are some pads where the fabric is infused with activated charcoal which I found helps with moisture wicking and the smell on my heavy days. There are tons of patterns online to make your own as well with directions, nonneed to be an expert sewist to make these. I do find that a safety pin at the front and back of my smaller pads to secure it to the panty helps it from slipping as well.

I work from home as well but still use the wet bag method because I literally just started using cloth pads after contemplating it several years ago. Since I’m new to this, so is my husband who gets grossed out by all things concerning my period! I ordered my first batch from a site called wish.com and they showed up just in time for my lady friend! After my first overnight experience with them, I took the plunge and ordered two different brands through Amazon along with a menstral cup because I decided I’m not going back to disposable pads or tampins which I use occasionally. I wish I had done this sooner! Now I’m set and will be teaching my girls to use reusable cloth pads when they start their cycles. As far as cleaning goes, I simple enclosed the used side with the snaps to keep in place then put in my wet bag I keep near the toilet (I used to cloth diaper when my little ones used diapers). At the end of every night during my cycle I simply rinse each pad with cold water then I put them in the washing machine with our laundry, press start then dry in the dryer on low when finished. I haven’t had any stains or odor issues doing it this way. I’m use to washing frequently since I have six people in my family so it doesn’t bother me. I make sure I wipe the sink clean after rising my pads which takes only a few minutes.The cup is even easier but I prefer pads, the cup is only for swim days or if I just don’t feel like dealing with a whole bunch of pads. But I’m glad I finally decided to go this route! It’s really not as bad as I thought it’d be. Sorry I wrote a novel! I’m just really excited about this!

I love the Etsy shop Hand Sewn By Me – she’s a sweet lady and has starter kits on ocassion to get a few at a discount to try them out. I have several different sizes and she has cute fabrics to choose from, dark and light. It’s always different. I switched a few years ago because I started having bad skin issues with disposables. My mom finally told me that I was allergic ti disposable diapers too so she cloth diapered me in the 80’s….

I hadn’t thought about an oxy or baking soda wash. I will have to adjust my routine to add that because I had thrown a couple away that I just didn’t feel were getting clean enough and were part of my original purchase anyway.

I just bought my first reusable pad. One of our local retailers (in South Africa) sells them for 30 bucks (basically $3)! And every time you purchase one,the retailer donates one to an underprivileged girl in need! What a win! My preteen daughter has also mentioned she would like to try these… Can’t wait to give you ladies feedback.

I’ve found that my favorites are the Alvababy brand that you can find on Amazon. They have the charcoal ones in a 6 pack with a wet bag for like $25. I’ve tried a few other brands and so far they’re my fav bc the lining is black, they fit snug, are very comfortable, and after 3 periods in them, I’ve never had a leak.

I’ve made my own pads and I wear them when working outside of the home. I’ve found it to be exactly like using disposables; I take a couple pads with me in individual pad wrappers (which I also made… isn’t sewing awesome?!) and when I remove a used one I simply snap it shut and place it in the wrapper of the new one I put on. Since cloth is more absorbent than whatever is in disposables, I can usually get away with taking fewer pads with me!

I liked your post a lot. I recently bought a 5 pack of cloth pads and I really LOVE them. I have not yet started my period and had to use them for that yet, but I practiced wearing them for a day and overnight to see how comfortable they would feel and if they would slip around in my underwear, they do not and they are super comfortable! I practiced washing them too after wearing them but they take forever to dry! My cloth pads came with 0 instructions, so I just washed them by hand with soap and water and hung them to air dry, but even after 48 hours they were not dry and I tried putting them in the dryer a few times and they are still damp.

Also could I just simply rinse the discharge from the pads and then throw them in the washing machine with cold water and then put them in the dryer like I would with my regular clothes? I was worried about the cloth pads getting damaged in the wash. The outside of the cloth pad is different than the lining. Suggestions?

Saw you were looking for recommendations for pads and wanted to point out Party in my Pants (www.partypantspads.com) they have tons of cute patterns and designs in organic and regular fleece and cotton and varying sizes and thicknesses for users. They are also quite thin and have a breathable waterproof backing. A lot of people skip over this awesome company for whatever reason.

Sara! No silly questions! At the bottom of the post is a link to the Etsy shops where the items were purchased. Designs change though so I’m would not expect the same fabrics as in the photos. The wet bag was purchased from Amazon and there is a link in the post as well. Let me know if you have other questions! More than happy to help as much as I can!

Thank you so much for this post! I read this last month and now using reusable pads for the time this month! Omg I’m not going back! I can’t believe I’ve been putting up with those gross uncomfortable pads for so long!!

I have a question as well. I have a bin for my dirty pads at home. I put a little lemon, vinegar, and some water in it for the pads to keep soaking until laundry day. I thought I remembered reading that somewhere but now I’m thinking my mind made it up lol…will they be okay sitting in that solution? Also will it be okay to wear with using vinegar? I will still wash them.